Israeli President Pardons Soldier Convicted of Killing Unarmed Palestinian

President Isaac Herzog has used his presidential clemency powers to erase the criminal record of Elor Azaria, a former Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting a neutralized Palestinian assailant in 2016. The decision came on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Azaria, then a sergeant, shot and killed Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron after the assailant had already been incapacitated. The incident was captured on video and sparked widespread debate in Israel and internationally. The military court convicted Azaria of manslaughter, a verdict that was upheld on appeal. At the time, then-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot stated that Azaria's actions did not represent the army's values or culture, and then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially condemned the act.

However, as public opinion, particularly among some political factions, shifted, calls for Azaria's pardon grew. Ministers like Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett advocated for his release, and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu praised the soldier. Azaria himself refused to express remorse for his actions during his trial and imprisonment.

The author, Professor Ruhama Weiss, criticizes Herzog's decision, arguing it violates the principles of repentance required for Yom Kippur. She contends that the pardon is particularly problematic given the current climate of heightened violence against Palestinians, which she claims receives tacit or explicit support from the government and military. Weiss asserts that Herzog's action prioritizes populist sentiment over moral integrity and damages Israel's international image, suggesting he acted against ethics rather than pursuing what is right and good.